William k



v I w. R. KEAT HLEY. SAFETY DEVICE FOR HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 9H3.

1,323,224. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

WILLIAM R. KEAlI-ILEY, OF ELLINGTON, MISSOURI.

SAFETY DEVICE FGR HORSE-DRAWN. VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 25, 1919.

Application filed March 13, 1918. Serial No. 222,160;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM R. IiEATI-I- er. a citn of the United States, residing at Ellington, in the county of Reynolds and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety De vices Horse-Drawn Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safs y devices for horse drawn vehicles, and, tr e primary object. of the invents is to provide a means operable from the vehicle for releasing the team therefromin case of a runaway so that the danger to the occupants of the vehicle will be reduced to a minimum in case of accident.

I further object of the invention isto provide a device of this character which is easily and sun-ply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and an rangement of parts which will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the front of the doubletree.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numer l 1 designates the tongueof the vehicle which is connected to the bow 2 that is secured to the front axle 3 of the same. This construction is of the conventional type ordinarily employed in light draft vehicles, that are drawn by horses such as buggies or the like, and my new and improved safety attachment is adapted to be applied to this conventional construction.

Another object of the invention is to pro The type of double tree a employed in this device is provided with upper and lower portions designated by the numerals 5 and 6, that are positioned above-and below thetcnguel of the double tree hence being slidably mounted thereon. The up per and lower portions of the double'tree are ing hollow tubes or rodsT, and are disposed in spaced relation intermediatethe ends of the. same, and which receive the tongue 1 therebetwecn. double tree are provided with alining openings intermediate the ends of the same for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

The releasing means employed in this;

device comprise a pair of upper and lower gripping aws 8 and 9 whlch are hingedly connected as shown at 10 with the tongue 1 atthe top and bottom sides thereof adj acent the inner-end of said tongue. These jaws Sand 9 extend forwardly along the tongue, their-extremities are bent laterallyas shown at llto form hook portions adapts: to be positioned in the openings in the top and bottom of the double tree. The jaws 8 and 9 are normally held into engagement with the double tree when the parts are poi sitioned as isclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by coiled springs 12that are connected with the inner sides of said jaws and with the tongue. however is adapted to be disengaged when the double tree is released as will, be hereinafter more fully described.

The means for releasing the jaws or forcing them apart comprises an operating rod 13'that extends beneath the vehicle having one end preferably connected with a foot lever or any other. operating lever that is disposed adjacent the seat of thervehicle. This lever is not shown but it may be of any conventional type so that the rod 13 may be moved longitudinally when desired. The forward end of the operating rod 13 is disposed adjacent the inner end of the tongue and connecting the forward extremity thereof with the jaws 8 and 9 are a pair of link members 14 which have loops 15 on their outer ends positioned around the jaws and engageable with the undersides thereof.

In operation, when the various parts of the device are assembled as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it is obvious that provided with spacing guides compris-r The top and bottom of the This spring connection the jaws 8 and 9 will be held into engagement with the double tree by the coiled springs 12. These springs tend to hold the said extremities of the jaws within the openings in the top and bottom of the double tree, and this engagement is sufficient to prevent any accidental disengagement. When it is desired to release the double tree in case of a runaway or the like, the operating rod 13 is moved forwardly said operation being controlled from the vehicle adjacent the drivers seat, and this forward movement of the rod 13 will consequently move the links 14 and as the links are in contact with the inner sides of the jaws 8 and 9 said jaws will be spread apart and their hooked extremities disengaged from the double tree. This will allow the double tree to slide along the tongue 1 and hence become disengaged from the vehicle.

The spring connection owing to its loose character is most felt on light draft horse drawn vehicles and this safety attachment absolutely insures the safety of the driver in case of accident.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention maybe had, and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination with a vehicle tongue, a double tree slidably embracing said tongue intermediate its ends, and means for r'eleasably 7 connecting said double tree and the tongue.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a vehicle tongue, a double tree having a portion intermediate its ends slidably embracing said tongue, and a releasable gripping member carried by said tongue and normally engaging the double tree. 7

3. In a device of the class described the combination with a vehicle tongue, a denfrom the vehicle, and links connecting the extremity of said rod andthe aws whereby said jaws are adapted to be forced apart to release the double tree upon rearward. movement of the operating rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature hereto.

WILLIAM R. K ATHLEY, 

